The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-08-21


ought to be at his post ready for action, and
Mars should be at his post ready to pilot the gun
boats up the channel, the depth of which a.
every moment OF the rising tide was so wei
known to him.
Mars, seated in the stern of the gig, piled his
paddle with vigor. In the bow Gilbert kept care
full watch down stream, ready to signal any
danger that presented itself from boat or drift
ing tree. Leaving the right bank obliquey they
made for the middle of the channel. so as to take
advantage of the full strength of the stream
Once they were there, Mars, by q stroke to port
or starboard. could easily keep the gig on its
course.
1t would have been safer to have kept alone
by the dark fringe OF trees and gigantic reeds
which bordered the right pank Of the st. Johns
In the shadow of the thick branches there was
little risk OF discovery. But little below the
plantation a sharp elbow of the bank threw the
current out to the other side and formed wide
eddy, which made the navigation somewhat
difficult. Mars, seeing nothing suspicious ahead,
steered the boat out into the current, which
was swiftly running to the From the land
ing place at Candies Bay to the anchorage OF
the fiotlla below the oar. the distance four
or five miles, and helped by the ebb and the Wig
orous strokes of the paddle this ought to be ac
complished within couple of hours.
a quarter of hour after their start, Gil.
bert and Mars were in mdstream, and ap
preaching Jacksonville 1t may be that Mars
unconsciously headed towards the town. drawn
thither by some irresistible attraction. Never
theless the hateful place must be avoided, for
its neignborhood was probably better guarded
than the middle of the river
'Starboard, Mars, starboard." said the youn 6
officer.
And the gig curved into the line of the cur
rent about quarter OF mile from the left
bank
Jacksonville was now neither dark silent.
Scores of lights moving about the
wharves, or swaying in the boats on the water.
A few were gliding along from point to point, as
as If an active guard had been organized.
At the same time songs and shouts sho wed
that scenes Of amusement or riot continued to
frrY, hiot Havo ar1 ne
partisans believe in the defeat of the Northern
ers in Virginia and the possible retreat of the
flotia2 Or were they making the best of the
few days that were left to them in launching
out into every excess, while the people around
them were drunk with whisky and gina
The gig kept on her course in mid-stream. Gill
bert had good reason to hope that he would be
ont of danger as soon as he had passed Jackson
vile.
Suddenly he motioned to Mars to stop pad :
ding. Within mile below the town he had
just caught sight of long line of black objects
stretching like range of reefs from on side of
the river to the other.
1t was line of boats broadside on and guard
ing the st. Johns. Evidently, when the gun
boats cleared the bar, these would be powerless
to resist them, and would have to retreat. but if
any federal boats attempted to ascend the river
they might offer some opposition to their pas
sage For this reason they had been placed in
position during the night. They lay without
moving, kept in station either by their grapnels
or their Although no men could be seen
it was certain that number were on board and
we'll armed.
Gilbert, of course. remarked that the string of
vessels had not barred the river when he came
up to Candles Bay. The precauton had been
in view of expected attack from Commandant
Stevens Anyhow. the gig was forced to leave
the centre of the stream; to keep as close as pos
81 Bile to the right shore, whore it might pass I'M
perceived among the reeds. This was the only
chance of passing the barrier.
MARS. mind you paddle without any noise
~ ,,rf1f he lima fha
ant.
'Yes, SIR"
1--WE may get among the eddies, and If you
want any help"
II shall not want any"
And with powerful stroke he sent the boat
towards the riverside some three hundred yards
above the guarded line. If she had not been
sighted as she crossed the river-and she might
have been-she would certainly be safe from
under the dark masses along edge,
and if the end of the line of boats did not extend
through.
Mars worked her carefully down in the dark
ness, which the thick curtain OF LEAKAGE rendered
darker. The stumps that here and there showed
with nolseless strokes he advanced, occasionally
crossing eddy or counter current which,
without some trouble II not easy to get
through. Coasting in this way quite hour
would be lost though it would matter little if
daylight came before the voyage ended, as by
hat time they would be near enough to the gun
)oats to fear danger from Jacksonville.
About o'clock the gig reached the line of
,oats. AS Gilbert had expected the shallowness
II the river close in-shore had caused the pas
age near the edge to be left ungarded A few
hundred feet beyond. point jutted out into the
st. Johns, thicky wooded and crowded with
nan groves and bamboos. This point on the up
trean side S dark and gloomy could be
Wished, but on the down stream face the trees
nd shrubs suddenly came to an end, and the
hore was cut up into marshes and creeks. and
ay low and exposed with nothing to cast a
bod no riu fhor liChf inf he
he open. and a black moving point like the gig
would probably be seen should any vessel be
ying off in the neigh borhood.
Beyond it the eddies ended and the current
lowed straight and strong. Ii the boat could
ouble the point she would sooE be swept down
o the bar and thence to the anchorage.
Cautiously Mars glded by under the bank.
'eering into the darkness he intently watched
8 it was safe to go, clearing the eddies which,
s the point curved out grew more troublesome
0 him, he piled his paddle silently. while Gill
ert, forward, kept a steady lookout over the
7hole surface of the St. Johns
Gradually the gig neared the point. A few !
minutes more and they would reach the end |
Thich out fine tongue of sand. They |
7ere not more than thirty yards from it when |
lars abruptly stopped
"Are you tiredl' asked the lieutenant. 'Shall |
take your placer"
Not word Mr. Gilbertr' whispered Mars.
And with two strong strokes of the paddle he |
rove the gig towards the land as if to run her |
n the bank. Then, instantly, he grasped one |
{ the branches hanging over the river, and I'M |
er it guided the boat out of sight In an instant |
hey were alongside the root of one of the man
rove trees, and motionless in darkness so deep |
nat they could not each other.
In ten seconds the man@uvre was accom-
lished.
The lieutenant seized his companions arm,
nd was about to demand explanation, when
Iars pointed through the foliage and showed |
i'm a moving object just off the spit.
1t was a boat with four men in her rowing up
ream and rounding the point so as to skirt
lie bank as she passed.
The same thought occurred to Gilbert and
ars. Before everything, and in spite of every
ling, they must regain their ship.
If the gig discovered they would not hes
ate to climb the bank, under the trees. and
cape along the river side to the bar. There at
~ break, whether their signals were answered |
? the nearest of the eunboats or they had to
vim for it, they would do all that was humanity
,ssible to get back to their duty
But moment afterwards they found that all
treat by land was cut off.
When the boat arrived at some twenty feet |
oyu the snot where they Law hid a conversation !